The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-05-19
The Grand Army Fair.

The fair of Thomas ii. Marshall Post, G. A. II.
of Belfast Thursday and Friday last, netied
about $500 to the soldiers monument fund. Thurs
day evening Mr. John X. Pierce, of Iowa, formerly
of Montville, lectuied to a small audience in the
Belfast Opera House. lie was Introduced by the
Hon. Seth l.. Millikcn in few appropriate
marks. Mr.. Milliken spoke of the gallant deeds
of the soldiers in the war OF the rebellion and said
none were more honorable than those who went
from Belfast. In regard to erecting elt
to orr fallea heroes he said it would be an "evil
day when we forget the boys of 'Gl.'' He alluded
to the great sacrifices the soldiers made that
we might enjoy the blessings of peace, and speal-
Ing Of the monuments erected in other places,
asked why we should be the last TO perpetuate the
memory of those who laid down their lives for the
Union.
Mr.. Pierce began his lecture with .,r,cf mention
of the soldier boys OF Waldo coun,v, and then
took up his subject-Life on the Western Frontier.
He was suffering from a severe cold and spoke
with dtlcuhc The lectr,er picir'ed the dark
side of Il nt'erman's life, of which we in the
in which the settlers I'VE, and which are necessary
as a protection against the prairie fires which
sweep everything be 'ore them, but which ai;er
y ''o
the construction OF the "straw ba,h' which is a
mark of the pros pelitv of the farmer. The meth
DDS of cultvating the prairie farms were e. planned
but the lecturer said the reports as to the crops
raised are greatly exaggerated. The average yield
per acre of agricultural products is not equal to
that in Maine. Every becomes Spectator in
land As soon as the homestcader begin to thrive he
sells out to an eastern Spectator. When new
him out and show him beautiful secl:on of the
country and tells him that his neisbbor on the
north is a Maine man, the one on ,he east New
Hampshire man, the one or the south from Con
necticut and the the west a New Yorl err
When the new se.tier takes possession he finds
that the land is ten miles away J. ON the place
designated and that his neighbors are all foreign
ers who cannot speak the English language. Every
body lmsrepresents the country, and the lec,drer
confessed that he had doue so himself when he
nrst went west The settlers sh'licss and
leave their machinery out of doors. The most
careful New England farmer Will soon fall into the
same way. speaking OF the Indians he said that
they Cannot be civilized When the attempt is
made the Indian becomes ten times worse than he
was in his will, slate. There are now a571,Oon
Indians in The west and they are i,crca sing and
not dying out as many affirm. The spcal.er de
srr1bed the wild horse and The method of breaking
him; and the buffalo, which is nearly extinct The
picture of western life as Mr. Pierce drew it. and
we have no doubt to its tru,h illness, ought to
be sufficient to make young farmers halt be
fore they tnink Of giving up their comfortable
Waldo county homes for sod houses straw fre,
and cyclone cages-thc latter holes in the ground
where The 'am'ly flee to escape irom cyclones and
pratt lie fires.
Friday evening was the fair proper. Quite a
number OF fancy al,irles were cortrb uted a I'd
sold by ticket Mrs. Hiram Jones maze and pre-
seuted guess cake. 1t was beautifully ,rosici
and on the top were the letters "1'. II. NJ. p" and
on the sides &c. a. L." The cake was won by
Mr. I. Eill ngs. \ very handsome doll was draw
by DR., q. p. Lombard. The silk quilt was drawn
by Mrs Prescott. Mr.. Charles J. Burgess made
and presented handsome key rack which was
won by Mr. F. i. Gilkev. Mr.. Alonzo Dutch was
the luckles man present. He diew several Juihs
and other useful articles. After the sale there
was dance which was enjoyed by all. The object
was worthy one but the fair vas not so success
iul as it ought to have been. This is PERHAPS due
10 the time of year 1t is the house cteanf,r sea
son aud every one is busy p.epar ng for the sr,r
mer. If the fair had been held earlier better re
suits might have been expected. Cannot a further
and united effort be made by our citizens to in
crease the monument fund? The amount now on
hand is NOT sufficient for proper memorial! to the
patriot dead.
The Post visa to re thanks to Mr.. Pierce for
his Kindness in delivering his lecture fer the bene
fit of the fund.